1997 NHL entry draft
The 1997 NHL Entry Draft was the 35th annual selection of amateur ice hockey players by National Hockey League (NHL) franchises, held on June 21, 1997, at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[1][2] The draft featured nine rounds and a total of 246 picks, with the Boston Bruins securing the first overall selection of center Joe Thornton from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).[3][4] Thornton, who amassed 1,539 points over 24 NHL seasons, was the last active player from this class before retiring in 2023, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2025—praised by longtime teammate Patrick Marleau for always looking forward—highlighted a draft renowned for producing multiple Hall of Famers and long-term contributors.[5][6][1] The second overall pick saw the San Jose Sharks select center Patrick Marleau from the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL), and later in the first round, they also drafted defenseman Scott Hannan 23rd overall from the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL on the same day; a choice that paid dividends as Marleau set the NHL record for most games played with 1,779 across his career, primarily with the Sharks.[7][8][9] The Los Angeles Kings followed with Finnish center Olli Jokinen third overall from HIFK Helsinki of Finland's SM-liiga, while the New York Islanders chose goaltender Roberto Luongo fourth overall from the Val d'Or Foreurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL); Luongo, later traded to the Florida Panthers, became a Hall of Fame netminder with 489 career wins.[8][10][11] Other first-round standouts included forwards Sergei Samsonov (eighth overall, Bruins, from Metallurg Magnitogorsk of Russia) and Marian Hossa (12th overall, Ottawa Senators, from the Portland Winter Hawks of the WHL), both of whom enjoyed decorated careers culminating in Hall of Fame inductions for Hossa.[4][1] Beyond the early selections, the 1997 draft yielded several late-round gems that underscored its depth, with 101 players ultimately appearing in at least one NHL game.[1] Additional value picks included defenseman Brian Campbell (156th overall, Buffalo Sabres, from the Ottawa 67's of the OHL), who earned a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, and forward Shawn Thornton (190th overall, Toronto Maple Leafs, from the Shattuck-Saint Mary's Sabres prep team), known for his toughness and 2011 Cup win with Boston.[1][8] This class's blend of immediate impact players and enduring talents contributed significantly to NHL rosters throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, including multiple Stanley Cup champions.[4]Overview
Event Details
The 1997 NHL Entry Draft, the 35th annual selection event organized by the National Hockey League (NHL), was held on June 21, 1997, at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[12] This single-day gathering brought together representatives from all 26 NHL franchises to choose amateur prospects, marking a key moment in the league's annual talent acquisition process.[4] Over the course of nine rounds, the teams made a total of 246 selections from eligible players, primarily juniors, college athletes, and European prospects.[12] The event emphasized the league's expansion era, with picks distributed according to reverse order of the previous season's standings, adjusted by the draft lottery for the top choices.[4] The proceedings were broadcast live on ESPN2, starting at 11 a.m. Eastern Time, providing national coverage of the first round's 26 picks and subsequent selections.[13] This format allowed fans to follow the real-time decisions that would shape team rosters for years to come.[14]Historical Context
The 1997 NHL Entry Draft occurred amid the league's ongoing recovery from the 1994–95 lockout, a 103-day labor dispute that shortened the season to 48 games and heightened tensions over cost controls and revenue sharing between owners and players. By 1997, the NHL had stabilized financially and operationally, with attendance and participation rebounding as evidenced by a 32% increase in U.S. hockey players from 1994 to 2004, signaling renewed fan engagement despite the earlier disruption. This period also marked accelerated expansion in the 1990s, growing the league from 21 teams in 1990 to 26 by 1997, with further additions like the Nashville Predators on the horizon in 1998, which diluted talent but fostered competitive parity across franchises.[15][16][17] Pre-draft scouting efforts focused heavily on North American junior leagues such as the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Western Hockey League (WHL), alongside emerging European talent, reflecting the league's increasing interest in international prospects during the expansion era. The 1997 prospect pool was top-heavy, with exceptional depth among centers—highlighted by elite talents like Joe Thornton and Olli Jokinen—and solid options at goaltender, including Roberto Luongo, contributing to what is retrospectively viewed as one of the stronger draft classes of the decade.[18][19] The Boston Bruins secured the first overall pick through the draft lottery after finishing the 1996–97 season with the league's worst record of 26–47–9, underscoring their need for a foundational player to rebuild amid the NHL's growing emphasis on parity. Expectations for the draft centered on high-impact prospects like Thornton, a 6-foot-4 center from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, who was unanimously regarded as the top talent and a potential franchise cornerstone capable of addressing Boston's longstanding need for a premier playmaker.[20][21][22]Draft Process
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for selection in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, players had to be at least 18 years old by September 15, 1997, and no older than 20 years old as of December 31, 1997, for North American players, meaning they were typically born between January 1, 1977, and September 15, 1979.[23] International players followed similar age guidelines but could be eligible up to age 21 if they had no prior professional NHL affiliation.[23] Additionally, eligible players must not have been selected in a prior NHL Entry Draft or signed an entry-level professional contract, ensuring the pool consisted primarily of amateurs.[24] The draft encompassed a wide range of amateur talents, including players from major junior leagues such as the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) circuits—Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Western Hockey League (WHL), and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)—as well as the United States Hockey League (USHL). College-committed prospects from U.S. high school and junior programs were also eligible, alongside international amateurs from European developmental leagues and national junior teams.[8] By the mid-1990s, NHL teams had intensified scouting of European players following the successful integration of talents like those from Sweden and Finland, leading to greater representation from international circuits in the draft pool.[25] During the draft year, NHL teams were prohibited from signing draft-eligible undrafted players as free agents, a rule designed to preserve the integrity of the selection process and prevent circumvention of draft order.[24] The NHL Central Scouting Bureau played a key role in evaluating prospects, releasing its final rankings for the 1997 draft that highlighted the top 10 North American skaters, top 10 international skaters, top 10 North American goaltenders, and top 10 international goaltenders based on scouting reports from across the globe.Lottery and Selection Order
The selection order for the 1997 NHL Entry Draft was determined by the reverse order of the 1996–97 regular season standings for the 10 non-playoff teams, providing the first 10 picks in ascending order of points earned during the season. Playoff teams filled picks 11 through 26, ordered first by depth of postseason advancement—with the two conference finalists picking ahead of semifinalists, quarterfinalists, and first-round losers—followed by reverse standings within each group to break ties.[26] A weighted lottery among the five worst non-playoff teams decided the right to the first overall pick, with odds assigned inversely to regular season performance to discourage intentional underperformance while giving struggling teams a chance at the top selection. The Boston Bruins, finishing last with a 26–47–9 record and 61 points, entered with the highest odds of 25 percent; the San Jose Sharks (27–43–12, 66 points) had 18.8 percent; the Vancouver Canucks (28–43–11, 67 points) 14.2 percent; the Los Angeles Kings (31–45–6, 68 points) 10.7 percent; and the New York Islanders (29–41–12, 70 points) 8.3 percent.[27][26] Held on May 11, 1997, at the NHL's New York headquarters, the lottery drawing used an envelope system where the winning team could advance no more than four spots from its original position; the Bruins drew the top envelope, retaining the first pick as the worst team and avoiding any reshuffling of the top five positions.[28][29] Prior trades influenced pick ownership, allowing some teams like the Los Angeles Kings to hold multiple first-round selections (3rd and 15th overall).[30] The resulting first-round order, incorporating the lottery outcome and all trades, is shown below:| Pick | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Boston Bruins |
| 2 | San Jose Sharks |
| 3 | [Los Angeles Kings](/page/Los Angeles_Kings) |
| 4 | New York Islanders |
| 5 | Vancouver Canucks |
| 6 | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 7 | Washington Capitals |
| 8 | Boston Bruins (from Philadelphia Flyers) |
| 9 | Buffalo Sabres |
| 10 | Carolina Hurricanes |
| 11 | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 12 | Ottawa Senators |
| 13 | Carolina Hurricanes (from Toronto Maple Leafs) |
| 14 | Edmonton Oilers |
| 15 | [Los Angeles Kings](/page/Los Angeles_Kings) |
| 16 | Phoenix Coyotes |
| 17 | New York Rangers (from Toronto Maple Leafs) |
| 18 | St. Louis Blues |
| 19 | Detroit Red Wings (from Tampa Bay Lightning) |
| 20 | Calgary Flames |
| 21 | Philadelphia Flyers (from Detroit Red Wings) |
| 22 | New Jersey Devils |
| 23 | Anaheim Mighty Ducks |
| 24 | Florida Panthers |
| 25 | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 26 | Detroit Red Wings |
Draft Proceedings
Top Selections
The Boston Bruins selected center Joe Thornton from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League with the first overall pick, aiming to anchor their rebuilding efforts after finishing the 1996-97 season with a league-worst 26-47-9 record and 61 points.[20][4] Thornton, a 6-foot-4 playmaker who led the OHL with 122 points in 1996-97, was viewed as the consensus top prospect and a cornerstone for the Bruins' future at center.[31] With the second overall selection, the San Jose Sharks chose center Patrick Marleau from the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League, selecting the speedy forward to build around a young core following their own challenging 1996-97 campaign of 27-47-8 and 62 points.[32][4] At just 17 years old, Marleau had posted 51 goals and 125 points in 71 games in the WHL, positioning him as a high-upside talent to help establish the Sharks' offensive foundation.[33] The Los Angeles Kings followed by drafting center Olli Jokinen from HIFK Helsinki of Finland's SM-liiga third overall, targeting a physical, two-way pivot to address needs at the position after a 28-43-11 season that yielded 67 points.[34][4] Jokinen, a 6-foot-2 prospect who excelled internationally and noted the Kings' requirement for a big center, brought versatility and scoring potential from Europe.[35] Finally, the New York Islanders used the fourth pick on goaltender Roberto Luongo from the Val-d'Or Foreurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, marking the highest selection of a goalie in NHL draft history at the time and signaling a focus on bolstering their netminding after a 29-41-12 regular season.[36][37][4] Luongo, who had a .904 save percentage in 13 QMJHL playoff games, represented a long-term investment in defensive stability for the franchise.[38]First Round Highlights
The first round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft featured 26 selections, comprising 16 forwards, 7 defensemen, and 3 goaltenders, reflecting a strong emphasis on offensive talent from North American junior leagues and European prospects.[3] The draft order was primarily determined by the previous season's standings and lottery results, with no significant trades executed on stage during the proceedings; however, pre-draft transactions, such as the Boston Bruins acquiring the eighth pick from the Carolina Hurricanes via a 1994 deal involving Glen Wesley, shaped the selection sequence.[30][39]| Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | NHL Team | Amateur Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Thornton | F | Canada | Boston Bruins | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 2 | Patrick Marleau | F | Canada | San Jose Sharks | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) |
| 3 | Olli Jokinen | F | Finland | Los Angeles Kings | HIFK (Finland) |
| 4 | Roberto Luongo | G | Canada | New York Islanders | Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) |
| 5 | Eric Brewer | D | Canada | New York Islanders | Prince George Cougars (WHL) |
| 6 | Daniel Tkaczuk | F | Canada | Calgary Flames | Barrie Colts (OHL) |
| 7 | Paul Mara | D | USA | Tampa Bay Lightning | Sudbury Wolves (OHL) |
| 8 | Sergei Samsonov | F | Russia | Boston Bruins | Detroit Vipers (IHL) |
| 9 | Nick Boynton | D | Canada | Washington Capitals | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 10 | Brad Ference | D | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Spokane Chiefs (WHL) |
| 11 | Jason Ward | F | Canada | Montréal Canadiens | Erie Otters (OHL) |
| 12 | Marián Hossa | F | Slovakia | Ottawa Senators | Dukla Trenčín (Slovakia) |
| 13 | Daniel Cleary | F | Canada | Chicago Blackhawks | Belleville Bulls (OHL) |
| 14 | Michel Riesen | F | Switzerland | Edmonton Oilers | HC Lugano (Switzerland) |
| 15 | Matt Zultek | F | Canada | Los Angeles Kings | London Knights (OHL) |
| 16 | Ty Jones | F | USA | Chicago Blackhawks | De La Salle Collegiate (USHS-MI) |
| 17 | Róbert Döme | F | Slovakia | Pittsburgh Penguins | Dukla Trenčín (Slovakia) |
| 18 | Michael Holmqvist | F | Sweden | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | Djurgårdens IF (Sweden) |
| 19 | Stefan Cherneski | F | Canada | New York Rangers | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| 20 | Mike Brown | F | Canada | Florida Panthers | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) |
| 21 | Mika Noronen | G | Finland | Buffalo Sabres | Tappara (Finland) |
| 22 | Nikos Tselios | D | USA | Carolina Hurricanes | University of Michigan (NCAA) |
| 23 | Scott Hannan | D | Canada | San Jose Sharks | Kelowna Rockets (WHL) |
| 24 | Jean-François Damphousse | G | Canada | New Jersey Devils | Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) |
| 25 | Brenden Morrow | F | Canada | Dallas Stars | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 26 | Kevin Grimes | D | USA | Colorado Avalanche | University of New Hampshire (NCAA) |
Player Selections
Selections by Round
The 1997 NHL Entry Draft consisted of 246 selections across nine rounds, with rounds 2 through 7 featuring 26 to 29 picks each and rounds 8 and 9 having 27 and 30 picks, respectively, as some teams declined to make selections in the later stages.[8] This structure highlighted the draft's depth, as teams scouted beyond the first round for high-potential talent, including emerging European players and goaltenders who contributed to long-term roster building.[8] While early rounds focused on immediate prospects, later selections often yielded hidden gems who developed into NHL regulars, underscoring the value of patience in player evaluation.[4] A notable trend in rounds 2 through 9 was the rising proportion of European draftees, signaling the league's expanding global reach; for example, Russian forward Roman Lyashenko was selected 52nd overall by the Dallas Stars in the second round.[8] Goaltending depth also emerged prominently in the middle and later rounds, with prospects like Swedish netminder Johan Holmqvist taken 175th overall by the New York Rangers in the seventh round, who later played over 100 NHL games.[8] These picks exemplified the draft's potential for uncovering contributors from diverse backgrounds and positions.Notable Selections in Rounds 2-4
The second through fourth rounds produced several players who achieved significant NHL success, blending North American and international talent.| Round | Overall | Team | Player | Position | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 27 | New Jersey Devils | Scott Gomez | C | USA |
| 2 | 47 | Florida Panthers | Kristian Huselius | LW | SWE |
| 2 | 52 | Dallas Stars | Roman Lyashenko | C | RUS |
| 3 | 69 | Buffalo Sabres | Maxim Afinogenov | RW | RUS |
| 4 | 83 | Los Angeles Kings | Joe Corvo | D | USA |
Notable Selections in Rounds 5-7
Rounds 5 through 7 continued the draft's depth, yielding durable role players and specialists amid a growing European influx.| Round | Overall | Team | Player | Position | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 121 | Edmonton Oilers | Jason Chimera | LW | CAN |
| 6 | 136 | New York Rangers | Mike York | C | USA |
| 6 | 144 | Vancouver Canucks | Matt Cooke | LW | CAN |
| 7 | 164 | Philadelphia Flyers | Todd Fedoruk | RW | CAN |
| 7 | 175 | New York Rangers | Johan Holmqvist | G | SWE |
Notable Selections in Rounds 8-9
The final rounds offered late value, particularly in defensive and goaltending positions, with fewer but impactful choices as teams conserved picks.| Round | Overall | Team | Player | Position | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 208 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Andrew Ference | D | CAN |
| 8 | 216 | New Jersey Devils | Scott Clemmensen | G | USA |
| 9 | 229 | Ottawa Senators | Karel Rachunek | D | CZE |
| 9 | 242 | Dallas Stars | Brett McLean | C | CAN |
Draftees by Nationality
The 1997 NHL Entry Draft showcased increasing international diversity among selections, reflecting the NHL's growing globalization in the late 1990s as European leagues produced more high-caliber prospects and geopolitical changes facilitated scouting abroad.[41] While North American players remained the majority, the draft included 78 players from Europe and other regions, a higher proportion than in earlier 1990s drafts like 1990, where Europeans accounted for approximately 23% of selections.[42] This shift highlighted teams' expanding interest in international talent, with 7 first-round picks hailing from outside Canada and the United States.[43] Canada dominated the draft with 128 selections, comprising approximately 52% of the 246 total picks, underscoring the continued strength of Canadian junior leagues like the Ontario Hockey League in developing elite prospects.[3] Notable Canadian draftees included Joe Thornton, selected first overall by the Boston Bruins, Patrick Marleau at second by the San Jose Sharks, and Roberto Luongo at fourth by the New York Islanders.[43] The United States followed with 40 picks (16%), emphasizing college-bound talents and players from U.S. junior programs; Paul Mara, taken seventh overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning, exemplified this group.[3] European countries contributed 77 selections combined (31%), signaling a rising tide of overseas talent.[3] Russia led with 19 picks, including Sergei Samsonov at eighth overall by the Boston Bruins; Czechia had 16, such as Robert Döme selected 17th by the Dallas Stars; Sweden tallied 15, with Kristian Huselius going 47th to the Florida Panthers; Finland had 12, highlighted by Olli Jokinen's third-overall selection by the Los Angeles Kings; and Slovakia contributed 6, most prominently Marián Hossa at 12th by the Ottawa Senators.[43] Smaller contingents came from countries like Switzerland (Michel Riesen, 14th overall by the Edmonton Oilers) and Denmark.[3]| Nationality | Count | Notable Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 128 | Joe Thornton (#1), Patrick Marleau (#2), Roberto Luongo (#4) |
| United States | 40 | Paul Mara (#7) |
| Russia | 19 | Sergei Samsonov (#8) |
| Czechia | 16 | Robert Döme (#17) |
| Sweden | 15 | Kristian Huselius (#47) |
| Finland | 12 | Olli Jokinen (#3) |
| Slovakia | 6 | Marián Hossa (#12) |
| Other | 10 | Michel Riesen (Switzerland, #14) |